Well it's that of year when the new players will soon be discovering that they need to do some adjustments to get the best out of their playing time. Often we'll hear them suddenly blaming the gear or paint but unfortunately they fail to realize that their manual and setting were written by a guy in California or they're too cheap that they want to use that last few bags of paint they have hanging around from August.

Just some basic tips:

1. Bring extra batteries and keep them warm.
2. Increase your dwell settings.
3. Use a light layer of lube.
4. Buy fingerless gloves. I like the neoprene ones by extreme rage. Keeps the hands warm.
5. Dress in layers.
6. Below 40F or 10C start looking at winter paint. It's not expensive when you consider half the summer paint will be barrel breaks.
7. Again batteries. Hopper batteries will only be good for a few hours then you'll get problems and need replacing.
8. Some people like to store their paintballs in a cooler to keep them warm.
9. You might want to revisit your barrel boring choices. Especially if you don't use summer paint.
10. Footwear. Ankle support, warm, dry and traction.
11. Headgear. Maybe look at getting a beanie. Or at least bring a toque to wear between games.

I like to head to WalMart, back in the outdoor section they have the packs of hand warmers for $4-$10.. They have foot specific, toe specific, and body specific warmers as well. But I just get the value pack of hand warmers, they're not that much bigger than the toes or foot ones to where you can not fit them in your shoe, just loosen all the laces up some, stick em in. Warm feet.. They release just enough heat so your feet are not hot and all sweaty, but they are warm. I stick one under my toes and I am good. If I am outside in the woods and it is snowy and really cold I put an extra in there for safe measure near my ankle. I also wear two pair of socks regardless.. Then I keep one in each pocket for my hands.. You can always tape one of the hand warmers to any place on your body that tends to get really cold for you. They last the whole day. I think I put one in at 2pm, got home at 11pm. It was still hot when I took it out of my shoe.. I might start taping them on top of my hand in my gloves instead of keeping in my pockets.

Long Johns are your friend. A long john/thermal shirt will keep you more warm than a regular long sleeve shirt layered. Same with pants. Make sure your first layer is your long johns, then layer one or two layers ontop of it just to keep windchill off you. Don't need to look like a big puff ball. Layer some thicker long sleeves, or a longsleeve with a hoodie.and reasonable pants on top the long johns and you should be fine. I work outside for 10hrs a day like this just fine in the winter. If you're dressed like this, you should be fine. I wear a nice pair of boots when I work with great socks and not walking in snow. But when I play I wear my cleats, so I like to add the hand warmers, it makes a huge difference.

OP said fingerless, I wear fingered. My fingers get too wet and cold in fingerless.

A beanie, or a tennis type headband that is thick and soft to go around your ears to protect them.

Do these and you should be able to play in the snow, no problem at all. Play a lot outside in the snow like this, warm all day long.

The only other thing you might want to add is something for your neck/chin if that area is sensitive to cold. I know mine is more sensitive than others. I just wear a fleece scarf type thing. Works great, can get them at Walmart as well. by the hunting gear.

If you have a poppit, turn your dwell up like 1 or 2. If you have a spool. Eh, I guess it varies for spools as they have a different bolt designs. At least 5 clicks over stock settings though for most.

Edited by Kirko017, 10 December 2012 - 12:56 PM.

Kent State University Paintball Club
The University of Akron Paintball ClubEminence

iagree with Kirko017 dress well not to much if its really cold we juse sportstejp over part of the cheek and nose, as fore paint we juse draxxus froztbite, gi sports winter has been working good fore us we ducetape beween boots and pants
we allways love to shoot on the tree above the player to make the showe fall on the playes under it .
Ps no need to dress in winter uniform ist just ruind after first hit, oh we juse pgps soo sorry cant help with dwell and stuff

Normally too cold in the winter to play here. Especially since we play with CO2 most of the time. It was just too big of a hassle to try and get consistent shot speeds, keep warm and trudge threw the snow. When you have days in Dec, Jan and Feb where you don't hit above 0F for a high and the snow it up to your hip, it kind of takes the fun out of the game.

Normally too cold in the winter to play here. Especially since we play with CO2 most of the time. It was just too big of a hassle to try and get consistent shot speeds, keep warm and trudge threw the snow. When you have days in Dec, Jan and Feb where you don't hit above 0F for a high and the snow it up to your hip, it kind of takes the fun out of the game.

Pff that makes it even more fun. Winter games are hands down my favorite time to play in the woods.

Normally too cold in the winter to play here. Especially since we play with CO2 most of the time. It was just too big of a hassle to try and get consistent shot speeds, keep warm and trudge threw the snow. When you have days in Dec, Jan and Feb where you don't hit above 0F for a high and the snow it up to your hip, it kind of takes the fun out of the game.

Pff that makes it even more fun. Winter games are hands down my favorite time to play in the woods.

Have you tried to move at a rate faster than 2 steps per minute because the snow is that deep and it is -40F outside? That is not fun.

Yes, that is fun part of winter paintball. Slowly sneaking around in the much more visible woods, hiding in the snow, tracking people down through the snow.. Dude playing in the snow is so fun!

Yeah HPA works better in the winter over CO2. We use CO2 sometimes during the winter in the woods. Just try not to shoot it too much at once to help prevent your gun from frosting up. HPA will still frost up the barrel and stuff too when you shoot it a lot but not as bad.

Most of the major companies offer a winter blend, ask your field that if it is Field Paint Only to order some next time. Or any rec paint will do, just try to keep it somewhat warm throughout the day. Put towels or a nice insulated coat around the bags of paint when it is outside. Keep extra that you're not using in the car, out of the elements as best as possible while you're playing

Edited by Kirko017, 13 December 2012 - 04:54 AM.

Kent State University Paintball Club
The University of Akron Paintball ClubEminence

Normally too cold in the winter to play here. Especially since we play with CO2 most of the time. It was just too big of a hassle to try and get consistent shot speeds, keep warm and trudge threw the snow. When you have days in Dec, Jan and Feb where you don't hit above 0F for a high and the snow it up to your hip, it kind of takes the fun out of the game.

Pff that makes it even more fun. Winter games are hands down my favorite time to play in the woods.

Have you tried to move at a rate faster than 2 steps per minute because the snow is that deep and it is -40F outside? That is not fun.

Normally too cold in the winter to play here. Especially since we play with CO2 most of the time. It was just too big of a hassle to try and get consistent shot speeds, keep warm and trudge threw the snow. When you have days in Dec, Jan and Feb where you don't hit above 0F for a high and the snow it up to your hip, it kind of takes the fun out of the game.

Pff that makes it even more fun. Winter games are hands down my favorite time to play in the woods.

Have you tried to move at a rate faster than 2 steps per minute because the snow is that deep and it is -40F outside? That is not fun.

Haha I live in the Maritimes, trust me I know cold and I know snow.

Pffffffffffffffft! your record low is only -26F. That isn't cold. That is balmy! Try -64F!

Haha that is not accurate, if that number is correct it's without windchill. The majority of the cold around here comes from that. But none-the less, yes I do enjoy playing in snow up to my waist and frigid temperatures.